Michele Sibiloni
Nsenene (2014 – 2020)
Michele Sibiloni
Nsenene 2014 – 2020
Grasshoppers, nsenene in the local language, are both a protein-rich delicacy and a source of income in Uganda. They migrate en masse twice a year, just after the rainy season. Every night, many people stay up until dawn to hunt and sell them. Traps are placed everywhere and powerful light bulbs are used to attract the insects. The ubiquitous grasshoppers, the green hue dispersed by the night mist and the smoke from bonfires create an otherworldly scenario, reinforced by the strangeness of the hunting techniques. In recent years, deforestation has greatly reduced the amount of migrating insects and climate change has made seasonal rains difficult to predict. The Nsenene series encourages reflection on a hunt that is situated on a precarious border between tradition and innovation.
Michele Sibiloni is an Italian photographer and videographer born in 1981, living between Italy and Uganda. He has covered a number of current events, mainly on the African continent. A book was published by Patrick Frey in 2021 under the title Nsenene.